Malleable implants containing demineralized bone matrix

ABSTRACT

Described are malleable medical compositions such as pastes or putties that include solids combined with a liquid carrier. The solids can include particulate collagen and particulate demineralized bone matrix. The liquid carrier includes an aqueous medium comprising one or more polysaccharides. Also described are methods for making and using such medical compositions.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation patent application of PCT/U.S. 07/067,767 filed Apr. 30, 2007 and a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/415,037 filed May 1, 2006 entitled “Malleable Implants Containing Demineralized Bone Matrix” all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to medical implants. In more particular aspects, the present invention relates to osteoinductive implant formulations containing demineralized bone matrix.

A wide variety of implant formulations have been suggested in the art for the treatment of bone defects. In addition to traditional bone grafting, a number of synthetic bone graft substitutes have been used or explored, including some materials that contain demineralized bone matrix. Demineralized bone matrix has been shown to exhibit the ability to induce and/or conduct the formation of bone. It is thus desirable to implant and maintain demineralized bone matrix at a site at which bone growth is desired.

However, the beneficial nature of demineralized bone matrix is susceptible to disruption by the incorporation of incompatible materials or techniques when formulating the medical implant material. At the same time, effective implant compositions must exhibit properties that retain the demineralized bone matrix at the implant site, and that handle well in the operating environment. As well, it is of considerable commercial significance that the formulation be manufacturable without undue cost, equipment or material burdens.

In view of the background in the area of demineralized bone matrix formulations, there exist needs for product formulations which exhibit the ability to induce and/or support bone growth through a desired region, which are readily manufacturable, and which demonstrate acceptable handling properties for surgeons.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present invention provides a demineralized bone matrix composition. The composition comprises bioresorbable solids admixed with a liquid carrier to form a malleable implant composition, with the bioresorbable solids present at a level of about 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) to about 0.7 g/cc of the composition. The bioresorbable solids include a particulate solid collagen material and a particulate solid demineralized bone matrix material, with the particulate solid collagen material present in a weight ratio no less than about 1:12 and no greater than about 1:2 relative to the particulate solid demineralized bone matrix material. The liquid carrier comprises an aqueous gel including a biocompatible polysaccharide, with the biocompatible polysaccharide present at a level of about 0.01 to about 0.5 g/cc of the composition, and in certain forms about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc of the composition. The solid demineralized bone matrix material incorporated in the composition can exhibit osteoinductivity. In certain forms, such malleable compositions are flowable paste materials in which the bioresorbable solids are present at a level of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.25 g/cc of the composition, and the polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.03 g/cc of the composition. In other inventive embodiments, such malleable compositions are shape-retaining putties in which the bioresorbable solids are present at a level of about 0.2 g/cc to about 0.4 g/cc of the composition, and the polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.02 to about 0.5 g/cc, and in certain forms about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.05 g/cc of the composition. The polysaccharide in these inventive compositions can be an alginate, pectin or chitosan material, or a blend of any or all of these, with alginates providing particularly advantageous osteoinductive pastes and putties.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a demineralized bone matrix composition that contains a liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel including a biocompatible polysaccharide, the aqueous gel in admixture with solids to form a malleable composition. The solids of this embodiment comprise a chemically crosslinked, particulate collagen material, and a particulate demineralized bone matrix material. The demineralized bone matrix composition can exhibit osteoinductivity.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a demineralized bone matrix composition that includes a liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel including a biocompatible polysaccharide, the aqueous gel being in admixture with particulate solids to form a malleable composition. The particulate solids include a fragmented bioresorbable sponge material and a demineralized bone matrix material. The fragmented bioresorbable sponge material can comprise a sponge material that has been rendered to a particulate form, such as a randomly fragmented (e.g. milled) sponge material.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a demineralized bone matrix composition that includes a liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel including a polysaccharide, the aqueous gel being in admixture with demineralized bone matrix material, wherein the demineralized bone matrix material is in the form of ribbons having a median width of at least about 0.2 mm, and in certain forms at least about 0.5 mm. In certain embodiments, the ribbons have a median width in the range of about 0.2 mm to about 3 mm (more preferably about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm), a median length in the range of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, and a median thickness in the range of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm. In certain additional embodiments, the polysaccharide is an alginate and/or the polysaccharide has a molecular weight of at least about 2 kilodaltons, e.g. in the range of about 2 to about 1000 kilodaltons. In further aspects, on a dry weight basis, the ribbon-form demineralized bone matrix can constitute about 70% to about 98% of the composition, more preferably about 90% to about 98%, and the polysaccharide can comprise about 2% to about 30% of the composition, more preferably about 10% to 2%. Optionally, other insoluble solids can be included in the composition, including for example demineralized bone matrix material having other shapes and/or particulate collagen.

In further embodiments, the invention provides methods of making and methods of using malleable implant compositions as described herein, and medical products including such compositions or materials for making them packaged in a sterile condition.

In still further embodiments of the invention, the demineralized bone matrix particles in any or all embodiments described herein can be characterized as, or replaced with any other, particulate collagenous material entraining one or more bone morphogenic proteins, such as BMP-2 or BMP-4, TGF-beta1, IGF-1, or any combination of some or all of these growth factors.

Additional embodiments as well as features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the descriptions herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a medical product of the invention including a medical paste or putty of the invention packaged within a terminally sterilized syringe device.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of a dry disruptable body that can be used to prepare malleable implant compositions of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to certain embodiments and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

As disclosed above, in certain aspects, the present invention relates to implantable medical formulations, and to methods for making and using the formulations. In particular embodiments, the present invention provides medical formulations that include a malleable composition comprised of solids and a liquid carrier, such as paste or putty formulations. The solids include a substantial level of demineralized bone matrix particles. In particularly advantageous embodiments, the demineralized bone matrix particles will be effective to render the formulation osteoinductive when implanted in a mammalian patient, including a human patient. The liquid carrier advantageously includes an aqueous medium containing a polysaccharide, and especially a water soluble alginate. Further, certain advantageous medical formulations include particulate collagen, such as collagen fibers or randomly fragmented collagen sponge, in an amount that is relatively less than the amount of particulate DBM on a dry weight basis. The inventive formulations desirably retain the DBM in a bioactive, osteoinductive condition, while also providing beneficial handling and implant properties.

Malleable implant formulations of the invention will include an amount of insoluble solids combined with the liquid carrier material. The solids include a particulate-form demineralized bone matrix material, or another particulate-form collagenous material entraining growth factors that natively occur in bone, such as one or more bone morphogenic proteins, especially BMP-2 and/or BMP-4, transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-beta1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), or any combination of some or all of these. In this regard, as used herein, the term “demineralized bone matrix” refers to a matrix material prepared by demineralizing any bone source, including cortical and/or cancellous bone. Desirable demineralized bone matrix materials will contain less than about 5% by weight of residual calcium. The source bone can be from any suitable source including autogenic, allogenic, and/or xenogenic bone. When used in describing a demineralized bone matrix (DBM) material, the term “osteoinductive” refers to the ability of the DBM material to induce bone growth. Alternatively, DBM materials can be provided lacking osteoinductive character, and nonetheless be used as osteoconductive materials that provide a scaffold capable of receiving bone growth induced by natural healing processes or other materials implanted in the patient.

DBM materials for use in the present invention can be obtained commercially or can be prepared by known techniques. In general, advantageous, osteoinductive DBM materials can be prepared by decalcification of cortical and/or cancellous bone, often by acid extraction. This process can be conducted so as to leave collagen, noncollagenous proteins, and growth factors together in a solid matrix. Methods for preparing such bioactive demineralized bone matrix are well known, in respect of which reference can be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,073,373; 5,484,601; and 5,284,655, as examples. DBM products are also available commercially, including for instance, from sources such as Regeneration Technologies, Inc. (Alachua, Fla.), The American Red Cross (Arlington, Va.), and others. DBM materials that are solely osteoconductive can be prepared using similar techniques that have been modified or supplemented to remove or inactivate (e.g. by crosslinking or otherwise denaturing) components in the bone matrix responsible for osteoinductivity. Osteoinductive and/or osteoconductive DBM materials used in the present invention can desirably be derived from human donor tissue, especially in regard to implant devices intended for use in human subjects. It will be understood, however, that DBM materials can also be derived from non-human animal sources and used in implants intended for use in humans or other animals.

In certain embodiments, the particulate DBM material can have an average particle size of less than about 1,000 μm. For instance, the DBM material can have particle sizes in the range of 50 to 850 μm.

In additional embodiments, the particulate DBM material can be in the form of elongate particles, such as fibers or ribbons. DBM ribbons having a median width of greater than about 0.5 mm are preferred, in certain embodiments with median lengths in the range of about 5 mm to about 20 mm and median thicknesses in the range of about 0.02 to about 0.2 mm. Illustratively, the DBM ribbon compositions can have median widths from about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm, median lengths of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, and median thicknesses of about 0.02 to about 0.2 mm. Such ribbon-form DBM particles can be made, for example, by milling off ribbons of bone from donor (e.g. human allograft) tissue, and then demineralizing the bone ribbons. Such milling can be conducted with a side-cutting bit. Alternatively or in addition, such DBM ribbons can be made by milling or grating the ribbons from a piece of demineralized cortical bone. Where ribbon-form DBM particles as described herein are used, effective formulations can be prepared which contain lower amounts of the collagen particles, or which are even free from the collagen particles. Thus, in certain embodiments of the invention, the composition will comprise ribbon-form DBM particles as described herein, in combination with a liquid substance comprising a polysaccharide and preferably an aqueous medium comprising a polysaccharide, especially an alginate. Such compositions may comprise collagen particles or may be free from collagenous substances other than DBM. The elongate ribbon form the of DBM particles promotes entanglement which, along with the thickening and binding nature of the polysaccharide-containing liquid carrier, can be used to provide paste or putty compositions of good consistency and cohesiveness, and in particular putty compositions with beneficial resistance to deformation.

In additional embodiments, the particulate DBM incorporated into the inventive composition can include a substantial component of relatively larger DBM particles in combination with relatively smaller DBM particles. In certain aspects, the particulate DBM can be constituted at least 10 weight % by particles having a maximum dimension of greater than about 2 mm, or greater than about 3 mm (e.g. in the range of about 3 mm to about 5 mm) and at least 10 weight % by particles having a maximum dimension of less than about 1 mm. In further aspects, the particulate DBM can be constituted at least 20 weight % by particles having a maximum dimension of greater than about 2 mm, or greater than about 3 mm (e.g. in the range of about 3 mm to about 5 mm) and at least 20 weight % by particles having a maximum dimension of less than about 1 mm. In still further embodiments, the particulate DBM can be constituted about 10 weight % to about 40 weight % by particles having a maximum dimension of greater than about 2 mm, or greater than about 3 mm (e.g. in the range of about 3 mm to about 5 mm) and about 90 weight % to about 60 weight % by particles having a maximum dimension of less than about 1 mm. It will be understood that particles as described above may have the given dimensions along one axis or along two or three axes. Relatively volumetric particles can be used, for instance having shapes ranging from generally round to generally cuboidal. Products having such DBM particle size and/or shape distributions can be prepared, for example, by blending separate DBM products having the respective particle size distributions. The presence of relatively large DBM particles in combination with smaller particles can provide an overall composition that resists compression upon impingement by soft tissues at an implant site, and that also can exhibit beneficial handling and osteoinductive properties.

Insoluble collagen material for use in the invention can be derived from natural tissue sources, e.g. xenogenic, allogenic, or autogenic relative to the recipient human or other patient) or recombinantly prepared (e.g. recombinant human collagen). Collagens can be subclassified into several different types depending upon their amino acid sequence, carbohydrate content and the presence or absence of disulfide crosslinks. Types I and III collagen are two of the most common subtypes of collagen. Type I collagen is present in skin, tendon and bone, whereas Type III collagen is found primarily in skin. The collagen used in compositions of the invention can be obtained from skin, bone, tendon, or cartilage and purified by methods well known in the art and industry. Sources other than bone are preferred, in certain embodiments, for the collagen component of compositions of the invention. Alternatively, the collagen can be purchased from commercial sources. Type I bovine collagen is preferred for use in the invention.

The collagen can be atelopeptide collagen and/or telopeptide collagen and can be essentially free from protein materials other than collagen. Still further, either or both of non-fibrillar and fibrillar collagen can be used. Non-fibrillar collagen is collagen that has been solubilized and has not been reconstituted into its native fibrillar form.

Suitable collagen products are available commercially, including for example from Kensey Nash Corporation (Exton, Pa.), which manufactures a fibrous collagen known as Semed F, from bovine hides. Collagen materials derived from bovine hide are also manufactured by Integra Life Science Holding Corporation (Plainsboro, N.J.). Naturally-derived or recombinant human collagen materials are also suitable for use in the invention. Illustratively, recombinant human collagen products are available from Fibrogen, Inc. (San Francisco, Calif.).

The solid particulate collagen incorporated into the inventive compositions can be in the form of intact or reconstituted fibers, or randomly-shaped particles, for example. In certain beneficial embodiments, the solid particulate collagen will be in the form of particles derived from a sponge material, for example by randomly fragmenting the sponge material by milling, shredding or other similar operations. Such particulated sponge material can have an average maximum particle diameter of less than about 6 mm, more preferably less than about 3 mm, and advantageously in the range of about 0.5 mm to 2 mm. Such materials can, for example, be obtained by milling or grinding a porous sponge material and sieving the milled or ground material through a screen having openings sized about 6 mm or smaller, desirably about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm. Retch grinders with associated sieves are suitable for these purposes. The resulting small sponge particles are randomly formed and have generally irregular shapes with remnant structures from the sponge material, and are highly beneficial for use in malleable compositions such as pastes or putties of the invention. In this regard, the use of such particulated sponge materials in combination with DBM materials in malleable compositions is considered as an inventive aspect disclosed herein also wherein the sponge material is made all or in part from a bioresorbable material other than collagen. For example, the particulated sponge material can be made from any of the other natural or synthetic polymers disclosed herein. Likewise, in these particulated sponge embodiments, the liquid carrier can be a polysaccharide-containing substance as disclosed herein or another suitable material, including aqueous and non-aqueous liquid mediums, and the particulated sponge material can optionally be used in the same relative amounts disclosed herein for the collagen solids materials. Further, a sponge starting material has been chemically crosslinked with an aldehyde crosslinker such as formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde, or another suitable chemical crosslinker such as a carbodiimide, or by other techniques such as dehydrothermal or radiation-induced crosslinking, the particulated collagen or other bioresorbable material retains the chemical crosslinking and provides an advantageous, lasting scaffold for bone ingrowth. Other sources of chemically crosslinked, particulate collagen, in fiber, irregular or other shapes, can also be used to significant advantage, and their use is considered to be another aspect of the present invention. These crosslinked particulate materials can be provided as starting materials for preparing compositions as disclosed herein, and therefore as incorporated in the device these particles are individually crosslinked. As well, crosslinked solid collagen particles can be used in combination with non-crosslinked collagen in compositions of the invention, wherein the non-crosslinked collagen can be solid (insoluble) or soluble collagen, or combinations thereof. Such crosslinked and non-crosslinked collagen mixtures can be used, for example, to modulate the residence time of the collagen portion of the implant compositions in vivo.

In other advantageous embodiments, the particulate collagen, crosslinked and/or non-crosslinked, can be in the form of elongate particles, such as fibers or ribbons. Collagen ribbons having a median width of greater than about 0.2 mm are preferred, more preferably greater than about 0.5 mm, in certain embodiments with median lengths in the range of about 5 mm to about 20 mm and/or median thicknesses in the range of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm. Illustratively, the collagen ribbons can have median widths from about 0.2 mm to about 3 mm (more preferably 0.5 mm to about 3 mm), median lengths of about 5 mm to about 20 mm, and median thicknesses of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm. When such elongate collagen ribbon compositions are used, potentially in conjunction with similarly-sized DBM ribbon compositions, or other DBM compositions described herein or otherwise, an advantageous mechanical entanglement of materials in the formulation can be achieved.

Advantageous compositions of the invention can comprise bioresorbable solids at a level of about 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc) to about 0.7 g/cc of the overall composition. For example, flowable paste compositions can be formulated which contain bioresorbable solids at a level of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.25 g/cc, more typically in the range of about 0.15 g/cc to about 0.2 g/cc. Such flowable formulations can be configured as injectable materials, e.g. so as to be injectable through a needle that is 16 gauge or smaller. Certain shape-retaining putty compositions can be formulated which contain bioresorbable solids at a level of about 0.2 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc, more typically in the range of about 0.25 g/cc to about 0.35 g/cc.

As noted above, malleable formulations of certain embodiments of the invention include an amount of collagen as an insoluble solids material. The collagen will desirably be incorporated in a substantial, scaffold-providing amount, but in an amount less than that of the particulate DBM on a weight-to-weight basis. In certain compositional embodiments of the invention, the bioresorbable solids include the particulate solid collagen material and the DBM material at a collagen material:DBM material weight ratio (dry basis) of about 1:12 to about 1:2. More desirably, said weight ratio is in the range of about 1:12 to about 1:5, or about 1:10 to about 1:5. Particular inventive embodiments are provided wherein said weight ratio is in the range of about 1:8 to about 1:5. These malleable implant compositions thus include significant amounts of the collagen solids, which provide a local scaffold material for cellular infiltration and eventual new bone volume. Typically, the particles of such collagen solids are less dense than the DBM particles, which has not only been found to improved the physical handling and implant properties of the inventive materials but can also provide a local scaffold environment that is more susceptible to cellular infiltration than the DBM particles alone. These factors, combined with the biologically-friendly nature of a thickened polysaccharide carrier, provide osteoinductive materials of particular benefit to health care providers and patients.

The liquid combined with the solids of the inventive medical formulations can be an aqueous substance, and can comprise sterile water, physiological saline, phosphate buffered saline, blood, bone marrow, bone marrow fractions or other liquid mediums, emulsions or suspensions that provide adequate wetting characteristics to form pastes, putties, and other similar malleable materials. Biocompatible organic liquids can be used in certain forms of the present invention, alone or in combination with water. A wide variety of biocompatible liquids are known and suitable for these purposes, including for instance liquid polyols such as glycerol.

Compositions of the invention can be prepared in certain embodiments by mixing the insoluble solid components into the liquid material(s), preferably so as to provide a substantially homogenous composition overall. In this regard, any order of addition of the solid components may be used. As an additional preparative technique, after incorporation of the solid components into the liquid, the overall composition can be heated, desirably to a temperature that does not significantly degrade the osteoinductive character of the DBM material, when such a DBM material is employed. Temperatures below 60° C. will be desired for these purposes, for example in the range of about 30° C. to about 60° C., more preferably in the range of about 45° C. to about 55° C. The heating can be conducted for any suitable period of time, in certain embodiments for a period of up to about 12 hours, and more preferably in the range of about 10 minutes to about 180 minutes. Where elongate particle forms of DBM and/or collagen are utilized in the compositions, such a heating step can be conducted so as to thicken the composition, even in the presence of the liquid carrier and in the absence of any liquid loss. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that such a heating step creates a further association of the elongate DBM and/or collagen materials in the composition with one another, leading to a more viscous consistency of the malleable composition. Thus, such heating steps can be beneficial in the preparation of generally malleable or flowable compositions.

The liquid phase of the medical implant compositions in accordance with certain aspects of the invention will comprise an amount of a polysaccharide. Preferred are ionic polysaccharides that are capable of forming thermally irreversible ionically-crosslinked gels upon combination with divalent or other polyvalent cationic materials. Suitable such polysaccharides include, as examples, plant-derived polysaccharides such as alginates and pectins, and gel-forming derivatives thereof. Aqueous solutions of such ionic polysaccharides form ionically-crosslinked gels upon contact with aqueous solutions of counter-ions. For instance, useful agents for ionically crosslinking alginate and pectin polysaccharides include cationic gelling agents, preferably including divalent or trivalent cations. Useful divalent cations for these purposes include the alkaline earth metals, especially calcium and strontium. Aluminum is a useful crosslinking trivalent cation. These ionic crosslinking agents will usually be provided by salts. Useful anionic counter-ions for the calcium or other salts are desirably selected from pharmaceutically-acceptable anions such as chlorides, gluconates, fluorides, citrates, phosphates, tartrates, sulphates, acetates, borates, and the like. An especially preferred ionic crosslinking agent for use with an alginate or pectin compound is provided by calcium chloride. The ionic polysaccharide chitosan can also be used (for example alone or in combination with an alginate and/or a pectin), and can be ionically crosslinked with multivalent, anionic gelling agents. Such agents include metal polyphosphates, such as an alkali metal or ammonium polyphosphate, pyrophosphates or metaphosphates. Citrates can also be used. These anionic crosslinking agents will also usually be provided by salts. The cationic counter-ion for the polyphosphate or other salt can be any suitable, biocompatible or pharmaceutically-acceptable cation including for instance sodium, potassium, or ammonium. Many other biocompatible polysaccharides, including plant-derived and animal-derived materials, and standard and thickened polysaccharides, as well as corresponding ionic crosslinking agents, are known and can also be used in aspects of the present invention. It will be understood that a single polysaccharide, or a blend of two or more different polysaccharides, can be used in compositions of the invention. In this regard, in the case of combinations of different polysaccharides, each polysaccharide can individually be used in the amounts, ratios, ranges or levels for the polysaccharide component disclosed herein (thus potentially leading to higher values than those set forth herein when the polysaccharides are considered on an additive basis), or the total amount of polysaccharides (considered on an additive basis) can be controlled to be within the amounts, ratios, ranges or levels for the polysaccharide component disclosed herein.

Medical grade polysaccharides suitable for use in aspects of the invention can be prepared using known techniques or purchased from commercial sources. Illustratively, purification techniques for preparing medical grade polysaccharides may include conventional separation techniques such as chromatography, membrane filtration, precipitation, extraction, or other suitable techniques. Medical grade sodium alginate may be commercially obtained, for example, from Medipol SA (Lausanne, Switzerland), or from NovaMatrix FMC Biopolymer (Philadelphia, Pa., Ultrapure PRONOVA brand (endotoxin level <100 endotoxin units per gram)).

Alginate polymers contain large variations in the total content of M and G, and the relative content of sequence structures also varies largely (G-blocks, M-blocks and MG alternating sequences) as well as the length of the sequences along the polymer chain. In some embodiments, one or more alginate polymers of the malleable composition can contain more than 50% alpha-L-guluronic acid. In some embodiments, one or more alginate polymers of the composition can contain more than 60% alpha-L-guluronic acid. In some embodiments, one or more alginate polymers of the composition can contain 60% to 80% alpha-L-guluronic acid.

In certain embodiments, alginate polymers used in compositions as described herein may have average molecular weights ranging from 2 to 1000 kilodaltons (kD). The molecular weight of alginates can affect the properties of the malleable composition. Generally, lower molecular weight alginates will be more biodegradable. In some embodiments, the alginate polymers have an average molecule weight of from 5 to 350 kD. In some embodiments, the alginate polymers have an average molecule weight of from 2 to 100 kD. In some embodiments, the alginate polymers have an average molecule weight of from 50 to 500 kD. In some embodiments, the alginate polymers have an average molecule weight of from 100 to 1000 kD. The molecular weights identified in this paragraph can similarly apply to other polysaccharides when used in the invention.

The alginate, when used, may possess a viscosity in a 1% solution measured at 20 degrees centigrade of from 25 to 1000 mPas and in some embodiments, 50 to 1000 mPas (1% solution, 20° C.).

While the use of those ionic polysaccharides that are capable of forming thermally-irreversible ionically-crosslinked gels is preferred, it will be understood that in the present invention these polysaccharides will be tonically crosslinked, if at all, only to an extent that does not eliminate the malleable nature of the putty, paste or other similar implant material of the present invention. Thus, within aspects of the present invention, no or substantially no ionic crosslinking agent will be added, or in some cases only a relatively small amount of ionic crosslinking or gelling can be added in order to increase the viscosity of the overall formulation. On the other hand, in other aspects of the invention, malleable compositions as described herein can be contacted with an amount of a liquid medium containing an ionic crosslinking agent immediately prior to, during, or after implantation of the material into a patient. Illustratively, a malleable composition as described herein can be co-administered with a liquid medium of ionic crosslinker, as in the case of a dual-barrel syringe administration by which the malleable composition and crosslinker are admixed as they exit the syringe. Alternatively, a previously-implanted amount of the malleable composition can be washed with a solution or other liquid medium containing an appropriate ionic crosslinking agent to stiffen the implanted material in situ.

The polysaccharide will sometimes be incorporated into malleable formulations of the invention at a relatively low level. Accordingly, in certain inventive variants, the malleable implant compositions of the invention contain the polysaccharide at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc of the overall composition, sometimes about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.1 g/cc of the overall composition, and in certain forms at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.07 g/cc. In desirable flowable paste formulations, the overall composition can contain the polysaccharide at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.03 g/cc, more preferably about 0.015 to about 0.025 g/cc. In certain desirable shape-retaining putty formulations, the overall composition can contain the polysaccharide at a level of about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc. In additional embodiments, the overall composition can contain the polysaccharide at a level of about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.07 g/cc, about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.05 g/cc, or about 0.02 g/cc to about 0.04 g/cc. It will be understood that the properties of a specific alginate composition utilized will impact its effect upon the characteristics of the overall malleable composition, and that the amount or level of alginate in inventive compositions may vary, in certain embodiments, from those specified herein.

Compositions of the present invention can be manufactured in a ready-to-use format and packaged in a medically acceptable container for wetted malleable materials. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ready-to-use medical product can be a product 11 including a syringe device 12 containing an amount of a malleable composition 13 of the invention. The composition is contained within syringe barrel 14, and is transferable from the barrel 14 by actuating a plunger 15.

Compositions of the invention can also be prepared on-site, at or near the time of surgery. For instance, dry materials can be provided in the appropriate amounts, and a suitable liquid such as a buffered aqueous solution can be combined with the dry materials and mixed to form malleable implant compositions. With reference to FIG. 2, in one form, an inventive product 21 includes a body 22 of dry materials including the DBM material, collagen material, and polysaccharide is provided. Body 22 can optionally define a reservoir 23 for receiving and retaining amounts of the liquid medium to be combined with the dry materials as it soaks into the body 22. The body 22 can thereafter be disrupted, e.g. by manual kneading, mixing or otherwise, to form the malleable composition.

In regard to the incorporated materials considered on a dry weight basis, in certain embodiments, the particulate DBM material can constitute about 40% to about 90% of the inventive compositions, more preferably about 50% to about 90%, and most preferably about 60% to about 85% by weight. In a similar vein, preferred inventive formulations can contain about 5% to about 30% by weight insoluble collagen particulate on a dry weight basis, more preferably about 8% to about 20%, and most preferably about 10% to about 15%; and can contain the polysaccharide at a level of about 1% to about 20% on a dry weight basis, more preferably about 5% to about 15%, and most preferably about 8% to about 12%. It will be understood, however, that other amounts of these materials can be used within the broader aspects of the present invention.

In further embodiments, on a dry weight basis, ribbon-form DBM as described herein can constitute about 70% to about 98% of the composition, more preferably about 90% to about 98%, and the polysaccharide can comprise about 2% to about 30% of the composition, more preferably about 10% to 2%. In one specific embodiment, on a dry weight basis, the ribbon-form DBM can constitute about 96% of the composition, and the polysaccharide can constitute about 4% of the composition. Such compositions can be free from any collagenous material other than DBM, and/or can incorporate an alginate as the polysaccharide.

Further, when considered as a solvated component of the liquid phase of the composition (i.e. excluding the weight of the solids), the polysaccharide can for example be present as an about 1 wt % to about 40 wt % solution, and in certain embodiments about a 1 wt % to about 5 wt % solution. Illustrative pastes can contain the polysaccharide in the liquid phase as an about 1 wt % to about 3 wt % solution, more preferably about 1.5 wt % to 2.5 wt %. Illustrative, shape-retaining putties can contain the polysaccharide in the liquid phase as an about 3 wt % to 5 wt % solution, more preferably about 3.5 wt % to 4.5 wt %. Additional shape-retaining putties can contain the polysaccharide at higher levels, for example about a 5 wt % to about 40 wt % solution, in certain embodiments about a 5 wt % to about 15 wt % solution, and in other embodiments about a 15 wt % to about 40 wt % solution.

In desirable variants, the liquid carrier of the inventive compositions is essentially or completely free from any organic compound that is a liquid at ambient or use (e.g. about 37° C.) temperatures. Thus, the use of organic solvents can be avoided, and the liquid carrier in certain forms can consist or consist essentially of an aqueous solution (potentially buffered) of one or more polysaccharides that is/are effective to provide the desired consistency to the final formulation. With respect to the admixed solids, these can be at least largely made up (e.g. at least about 60%, at least about 80%, or at least about 90% by weight) by the solid collagen particles and the solid DBM particles, and in certain embodiments the insoluble solids in the composition can consist or consist essentially of the collagen particles and DBM particles. As well, in desirable embodiments of the invention, all of the solids in the composition will be bioresorbable. It will be understood, however, that these parameters are not necessary to all aspects of the invention.

Certain advantageous malleable compositions of the invention will contain a particulate DBM material at a level of at least about 5% by weight overall, and typically within the range of about 5% to about 30%. Such compositions can contain the particulate solid collagen material at a level of at least about 0.5% by weight overall and typically in the range of about 0.5% by weight to about 5%, and the polysaccharide at a level of at least about 0.1% by weight overall and typically in the range of about 0.1% to about 20%, and in certain forms about 0.5% to 5%. More specific inventive malleable compositions incorporate the particulate DBM material at a level of about 10% to about 25% by weight overall, the particulate solid collagen material at a level of about 1% to about 5% by weight overall, and the polysaccharide at a level of about 1% to about 20% by weight overall and in some forms about 1% to about 5% by weight overall.

The bulk densities of the inventive compositions can vary and depend upon the densities of the materials in the compositions. In certain embodiments, the bulk density of the inventive malleable composition will be in the range of about 1.1 g/cc to about 1.5 g/cc, more typically in the range of about 1.1 g/cc to about 1.4 g/cc. These densities may vary, however, with the densities of additional materials incorporated into the malleable compositions. For instance, bulk densities within these ranges or higher may be exhibited when amounts of dense solids such as particulate mineralized bone or ceramics are incorporated into the formulations.

Malleable implant materials of the invention may also contain other beneficial substances including for example preservatives, cosolvents, suspending agents, viscosity enhancing agents, ionic strength and osmolality adjusters and/or other excipients. Suitable buffering agents can also be used an include but are not limited to alkaline earth metal carbonates, phosphates, bicarbonates, citrates, borates, acetates, succinates, or others. Illustrative specific buffering agents include for instance sodium phosphate, sodium citrate, sodium borate, sodium acetate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium tromethanine (TRIS). These agents can be included in amounts that are effective to maintain the pH of the system at a biologically acceptable level, for instance maintaining a pH between about 6 and about 8 and preferably near neutral.

The malleable implant materials disclosed herein can also include other biocompatible and preferably bioresorbable substances. These materials may include, for example, natural polymers such as proteins and polypeptides, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, elastin, hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulfate, or mixtures or composites thereof. Synthetic polymers may also be incorporated into the malleable implant materials. These include, for example biodegradable synthetic polymers such as polylactic acid, polyglycolide, polylactic polyglycolic acid copolymers (“PLGA”), polycaprolactone (“PCL”), poly(dioxanone), poly(trimethylene carbonate) copolymers, polyglyconate, poly(propylene fumarate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), polyethyleneglycol, polycaprolactone copolymers, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyhydroxyvalerate, tyrosine-derived polycarbonates and any random or (multi-)block copolymers, such as bipolymer, terpolymer, quaterpolymer, etc., that can be polymerized from the monomers related to previously-listed homo- and copolymers.

The malleable implant materials of the invention can also include a mineral component. The mineral used can include a natural or synthetic mineral that is effective to provide a scaffold for bone ingrowth. Illustratively, the mineral matrix may be selected from one or more materials from the group consisting of bone particles, Bioglass®, tricalcium phosphate, biphasic calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, corraline hydroxyapatite, and biocompatible ceramics. Biphasic calcium phosphate is a particularly desirable synthetic ceramic for use in the invention. Such biphasic calcium phosphate can have a tricalcium phosphate:hydroxyapatite weight ratio of about 50:50 to about 95:5, more preferably about 70:30 to about 95:5, even more preferably about 80:20 to about 90:10, and most preferably about 85:15. The mineral material can be a granular particulate having an average particle diameter between about 0.2 and 5.0 mm, more typically between about 0.4 and 3.0 mm, and desirably between about 0.4 and 2.0 mm.

In another aspect of the invention, the mineral material can include bone particles, possibly cancellous but preferably cortical, ground to provide an average particle diameter among those discussed above for the particulate mineral material. Both human and non-human sources of bone are suitable for use in the instant invention, and the bone may be autograft, allograft or xenograft in nature relative to the mammal to receive the implant. Appropriate pre-treatments known in the art may be used to minimize the risks of disease transmission and/or immunogenic reaction when using bone particles as or in the mineral material.

In one embodiment, xenogenic bone that has been pretreated to reduce or remove its immunogenicity is used to provide a porous mineral matrix in the implant composition. For example, the bone can be calcined or deproteinized to reduce the risks of immunogenic reactions to the implant material.

Bioactive agents can be delivered with malleable implant materials of the invention. These bioactive agents may include, for example, antimicrobials, antibiotics, antimyobacterial, antifungals, antivirals, antineoplastic agents, antitumor agents, agents affecting the immune response, blood calcium regulators, agents useful in glucose regulation, anticoagulants, antithrombotics, antihyperlipidemic agents, cardiac drugs, thyromimetic and antithyroid drugs, adrenergics, antihypertensive agents, cholnergics, anticholinergics, antispasmodics, antiulcer agents, skeletal and smooth muscle relaxants, prostaglandins, general inhibitors of the allergic response, antihistamines, local anesthetics, analgesics, narcotic antagonists, antitussives, sedative-hypnotic agents, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, anti-anxiety agents, antidepressant agents, anorexigenlcs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants, vaso-active agents, bone-active agents, osteogenic factors, antiarthritics, statins, MIA/CD-RAP (melanoma-inhibiting activity/cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein), and diagnostic agents.

Bioactive agents may also be provided by tissue materials incorporated into the malleable implant material, including for instance autologous or allogenic tissue materials, which are incorporated into the material to be implanted in the patient. Such tissue materials can include blood or blood fractions, bone marrow or bone marrow fractions, cartilage, and/or other sources of cells or other beneficial tissue components derived from the patient to be treated or another suitable animal source.

Bioactive agents such as those described herein can be incorporated homogeneously or regionally into the implant material by simple admixture or otherwise. Further, they may be incorporated alone or in conjunction with another carrier form or medium such as microspheres or another microparticulate formulation. Suitable techniques for forming microparticles are well known in the art, and can be used to entrain or encapsulate bioactive agents, whereafter the microparticles can be dispersed within the malleable implantable material upon or after its preparation.

In certain embodiments, a malleable implant composition of the invention will include one or more substances, additional to the osteoinductive DBM material, that induce or generate the formation of bone. Suitable osteogenic materials can include a growth factor that is effective in inducing formation of bone. Desirably, the growth factor will be from a class of proteins known generally as bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), and can in certain embodiments be recombinant human (rh) BMPs. These BMP proteins, which are known to have osteogenic, chondrogenic and other growth and differentiation activities, include rhBMP-2, rhBMP-3, rhBMP4 (also referred to as rhBMP-2B), rhBMP-5, rhBMP-6, rhBMP-7 (rhOP-1), rhBMP-8, rhBMP-9, rhBMP-12, rhBMP-13, rhBMP-15, rhBMP-16, rhBMP-17, rhBMP-18, rhGDF-1, rhGDF-3, rhGDF-5, rhGDF-6, rhGDF-7, rhGDF-8, rhGDF-9, rhGDF-10, rhGDF-11, rhGDF-12, rhGDF-14. For example, BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6 and BMP-7, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,922; 5,013,649; 5,116,738; 5,106,748; 5,187,076; and 5,141,905; BMP-8, disclosed in PCT publication WO91/18098; and BMP-9, disclosed in PCT publication WO93/00432, BMP-10, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,480; BMP-11, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,638, or BMP-12 or BMP-13, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,882, BMP-15, disclosed U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,372 and BMP-16, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,965,403 and 6,331,612. Other compositions which may also be useful include Vgr-2, and any of the growth and differentiation factors [GDFs], including those described in PCT applications WO94/15965; WO94/15949; WO95/01801; WO95/01802; WO94/21681; WO94/15966; WO95/10539; WO96/01845; WO96/02559 and others. Also useful in the present invention may be BIP, disclosed in WO94/01557; HP00269, disclosed in JP Publication number: 7-250688; and MP52, disclosed in PCT application WO93/16099. The disclosures of all of these Patents and applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Also useful in the present invention are heterodimers of the above and modified proteins or partial deletion products thereof. These proteins can be used individually or in mixtures of two or more. rhBMP-2 is preferred.

The BMP may be recombinantly produced, or purified from a protein composition. The BMP may be homodimeric, or may be heterodimeric with other BMPs (e.g., a heterodimer composed of one monomer each of BMP-2 and BMP-6) or with other members of the TGF-beta superfamily, such as activins, inhibins and TGF-beta 1 (e.g., a heterodimer composed of one monomer each of a BMP and a related member of the TGF-beta superfamily). Examples of such heterodimeric proteins are described for example in Published PCT Patent Application WO 93/09229, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The amount of osteogenic protein useful herein is that amount effective to stimulate increased osteogenic activity of infiltrating progenitor cells, and will depend upon several factors including the size and nature of the defect being treated, and the carrier and particular protein being employed.

Other therapeutic growth factors or substances may also be used in malleable implant materials of the present invention, especially those that may be used to stimulate bone formation. Such proteins are known and include, for example, platelet-derived growth factors, insulin-like growth factors, cartilage-derived morphogenic proteins, growth differentiation factors such as growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF-5), and transforming growth factors, including TGF-α and TGF-β.

The osteogenic proteins or other biologically active agents, when used in the present invention, can be provided in liquid formulations, for example buffered aqueous formulations. In certain embodiments, such liquid formulations can be mixed with, received upon and/or within, or otherwise combined with a dried implant material containing solid ingredients in order to prepare an osteogenic, malleable implant material of the invention. One suitable rhBMP-2 formulation is available from Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, Tenn., with its INFUSE® Bone Graft product. Alternatively, such liquid formulations of biologically active agents can be combined with an already-prepared, wetted malleable implant composition of the invention.

Osteoinductive medical paste, putty or other malleable compositions of the present invention can also comprise progenitor and/or stem cells derived from embryonic or adult tissue sources and/or taken from culture. Illustratively, compositions of the invention can incorporate cells derived from blood, bone marrow, or other tissue sources from the patient to be treated (autologous cells) or from a suitable allogenic or xenogenic donor source. In certain embodiments of the invention, the conformable compositions incorporate an enriched bone marrow fraction, prepared for example as described in US Patent Publication No. 2005/0130301 to McKay et al. published Jun. 16, 2005, publishing U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/887,275 filed Jul. 8, 2004, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Thus, implantable materials can incorporate a bone marrow fraction enriched in connective tissue growth components, that is prepared by centrifuging a biological sample (e.g. from the patient to be treated) to separate the sample into fractions including a fraction rich in connective tissue growth components. The fraction rich in connective tissue growth components can then be isolated from the separated sample, and incorporated into the malleable implant material, e.g. by using the fraction in or as a wetting medium in combination with a dry particulate or dried body including the other ingredients of the malleable formulation.

In still further embodiments, the present invention provides methods for treating patients that involve implanting in the patients a malleable implant material as described herein. In such uses, a paste, putty or other malleable implant composition of the invention can be implanted at a site at which tissue growth is desired, e.g. to treat a disease, defect or location of trauma, and/or in some instances to promote artificial arthrodesis. The medical compositions can be used as or in surgical implants at, in, on, or near bone defect sites, cartilage repair sites, or other musculoskeletal sites. Alternatively, the compositions of the invention may be applied to larger segments of bone, artificial implants, or any other kind of surgical implant. The malleable character of the compositions can enable their introduction, shaping and/or molding within voids, defects or other areas in which new tissue growth is desired, and/or in certain embodiments in which the delivery of a bioactive agent is desired. In some advantageous embodiments, the malleable material will be a putty having shape-retaining properties that desirably provide sufficient three-dimensional integrity to resist substantial compression when impinged by adjacent soft tissues of the body at a bony implant site. In other advantageous embodiments, the malleable material will be a more flowable paste, thereby facilitating its introduction into remote implant sites using syringes, needles, tubes or other elongate delivery devices. Injectable pastes, for instance effective for injection through a 16 gauge needle, form preferred past embodiments of the invention. It will be understood, however, that not all pastes or putties of the invention need be injectable through relatively small devices such as needles, as other delivery modes or devices through open or minimally invasive surgeries will be available.

Illustrative bone repair sites that can be treated with medical compositions of the invention include, for instance, those resulting from injury, defects brought about during the course of surgery, infection, malignancy or developmental malformation. The malleable compositions can be used in a wide variety of orthopedic, periodontal, neurosurgical and oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures including, but not limited to: the repair of simple and compound fractures and non-unions; external and internal fixations; joint reconstructions such as arthrodesis; general arthroplasty; cup arthroplasty of the hip; femoral and humeral head replacement; femoral head surface replacement and total joint replacement; repairs of the vertebral column including spinal fusion and internal fixation; tumor surgery, e.g., deficit filing; discectomy; laminectomy; excision of spinal cord tumors; anterior cervical and thoracic operations; repairs of spinal injuries; scoliosis, lordosis and kyphosis treatments; intermaxillary fixation of fractures; mentoplasty; temporomandibular joint replacement; alveolar ridge augmentation and reconstruction; inlay osteoimplants; implant placement and revision; sinus lifts; cosmetic enhancement; etc. Specific bones which can be repaired or replaced with the malleable composition or an implant comprising the composition include, but are not limited to: the ethmoid; frontal; nasal; occipital; parietal; temporal; mandible; maxilla; zygomatic; cervical vertebra; thoracic vertebra; lumbar vertebra; sacrum; rib; sternum; clavicle; scapula; humerus; radius; ulna; carpal bones; metacarpal bones; phalanges; ilium; ischium; pubis; femur; tibia; fibula; patella; calcaneus; tarsal and metatarsal bones.

In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, the paste, putty or other malleable implant compositions of the invention can be used as bone void fillers, or can be incorporated in, on or around a load bearing implants such as spinal implants, hip implants (e.g. in or around implant stems and/or behind acetabular cups), knee implants (e.g. in or around stems). In inventive variants, the malleable implant compositions of the invention can be incorporated in, on or around a load-bearing spinal implant device having a compressive strength of at least about 10000 N, such as a fusion cage, dowel, or other device potentially having a pocket, chamber or other cavity for containing an osteoinductive composition, and used in a spinal fusion such as an interbody fusion. One illustrative such use is in conjunction with a load-bearing interbody spinal spacer to achieve interbody fusion. In these applications, the malleable implant composition can be placed in and/or around the spacer to facilitate the fusion.

Illustrative cartilage repair sites that can be treated with malleable compositions of the invention include, as examples, articular cartilage surfaces occurring in articular joints having at least two major bones. Examples include, but are not limited to the elbow, wrist, phalanx, knee, and ankle. Additionally, cartilage surfaces within shoulder and hip joints can be treated.

The present invention also provides medical kits that include, or that can be used to prepare, malleable implant compositions of the invention. Such kits can include a dried material containing the solid ingredients of the malleable formulation along with an aqueous medium or other biocompatible wetting liquid for combination with the dried material to form a malleable wetted material, or can include the formulated, wetted malleable implant material in a suitable container such as a syringe or vial (e.g. terminally sterilized), and/or another item such as a load-bearing implant (e.g. a spinal spacer), and/or a transfer device such as a syringe, and/or a therapeutic substance, for example an osteogenic substance such as a BMP. In one specific form, such a medical kit can include a dried material, such as a particulate or dried body, a BMP in lyophilized form (e.g. rhBMP-2), and an aqueous medium for reconstitution of the BMP to prepare an aqueous formulation that can then be added to the dried material in the process of preparing an osteogenic putty, paste or other malleable implant material of the invention.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the following specific examples. It will be understood that these examples are illustrative and not limiting of the embodiments of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of Osteoinductive Putty Formulation

12.9 g of sodium alginate (USP grade, Spectrum Chemical) were combined with 325 cc of phosphate buffered saline in a blender. The materials were mixed in the blender until all of the alginate was incorporated. The combined PBS/alginate material was then transferred to a mixer bowl and mixing was initiated. 16.13 g of milled, crosslinked collagen sponge were slowly added to the mixer bowl while mixing, and the resulting materials mixed to form a uniform mixture. The milled collagen was obtained by grinding a crosslinked collagen sponge material available from Collagen Matrix, Inc. (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and known as Collagen Matrix Sponge. A retch grinder operating at 8000 rpm with a 1 mm sieve was used for this purpose, resulting in the collection of the randomized sponge particulate as a wispy mass. 100 g of demineralized bone matrix having a particle size of 55-850 μm were then slowly added to the bowl while mixing, which was allowed to proceed until a uniform mixture was obtained. The resulting mass of putty was packed into a 60 cc syringe, and a syringe connector was attached. The 60 cc syringe was connected in sequence to smaller syringes for final packaging. In particular, 5 cc of the putty product were transferred into 6 cc syringes, and/or 10 cc of the putty product were transferred into 12 cc syringes. The top of the smaller syringe was then capped tightly, and the capped syringe was inserted into an inner pouch package which was vacuum sealed. Appropriate labels were applied to the inner pouches which were then inserted into outer packaging pouches and then heat sealed. The packaged syringe products were terminally sterilized with E-beam to a level of 25 kiloGrays (kGy).

The osteoinductive putties prepared as above contained, on a dry weight basis, 77.5% DBM (particle size 55-850 μm), 10.0% alginate, and 12.5% collagen. On a wet weight basis, the putties contained 21.4% DBM, 2.8% sodium alginate, 3.4% collagen, and 72.4% phosphate buffered saline. The compositions were of good putty quality and would retain their shape unless kneaded or pressed upon.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Osteoinductive Paste Formulation

The procedures of Example 1 were repeated except utilizing 660 cc of phosphate buffered saline instead of 325 cc. The resulting products were of a paste character and on a dry weight basis contained the same levels of DBM, sodium alginate, and collagen as the putties prepared in Example 1. On a wet weight basis, the paste contained 12.7% DBM, 1.6% sodium alginate, 2.0% collagen, and 83.7% phosphate buffered saline. The composition had a beneficial paste consistency and was manually injectable through a 16 gauge needle.

EXAMPLE 3 Spinal Fusion Study with Osteoinductive Pastes and Putties

In this study, the osteoinductive paste and putty materials of Examples 1 and 2 were evaluated for their ability to induce spinal vertebral fusion when bilaterally implanted in the nude rat model.

Athymic nude rats (RNU/RNU) ranging in weight from 212-3000 grams were obtained from Harlan Laboratories. Test rats were divided into groups comprised of 6 animals according to weight. Control animals received sham surgery (no test implant).

For anesthesia, animals were placed in a chamber and induced with isoflurane in oxygen (2-4%). Buprenorphine (0.5 mg/kg) was administered pre-operatively for analgesia, and 0.2 ml enrofloxacin was administered subcutaneously for antimicrobial prophylaxis prior to surgery.

A dorsal midline skin incision was made from the region of L1-2 extending caudal approximately 3-4 cm to just caudal to the ileac crests. Paramedian incisions of approximately 2 cm were made over the paraspinal fascia, and muscles were separated with a combination of blunt and sharp dissection. Self-retaining retractors were placed to retract the muscle to expose the transverse vertebral processes. The transverse processes of the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae were identified and adherent soft tissue cleaned from the dorsal surfaces. The operative sites were both flushed with approximately 1.5 ml saline. A small, motorized burr was then used to decorticate the transverse processes to the point that bleeding bone was observed. The paste or putty was then applied to the sites. 0.3 ml of paste or putty compositions were applied to each site in direct contact with the decorticated transverse processes and spanned the distance between them.

Surgical closure was performed in two layers using monofilament polyglyconate suture (4-0 Maxon, Tyco Healthcare). After closure, a povidone iodine ointment was placed on the wound, followed by application of a Tegaderm (3M Healthcare) transparent dressing. A dorso-ventral radiograph was taken, and animals were placed in a sterilized polycarbonate cage with a sterile towel bed for anesthesia recovery. These cages were placed over a circulating warm water bath to provide supplemental heat during the recovery process. After several hours of observation, they were returned to single housing on irradiated bedding in sanitized cages. Buprenorphine was administered twice daily for two days and on the morning of the third day. Enrofloxacin was administered on the evening of surgery and the morning of post-operative day 1. Sutures were removed at approximately 7 days post-surgery, and rats were then pair housed for the study duration.

The animals on study were observed daily. Post-operative radiographs were taken 1) either immediately after surgery or at approximately 1 week post-surgery, 2) at approximately three weeks post-surgery and 3) at sacrifice (approximately 6 weeks post-surgery). All animal radiographs were dorso-ventral views centered on the lower lumbar spine.

Euthanasia was performed approximately 6 weeks post-operatively. Animals were weighed, euthanized in a CO₂ chamber and radiographed. The necropsy consisted of explanting the lumbar spine from T13 to approximately S1 or S2. A rib was left on T13 to aid the histo-technician with site orientation. Excessive soft tissue was removed and the operative site identified. A piece of braided suture was placed over the operative site to aid the histo-technician with site identification. The operative segment was manually palpated for motion. After the site was palpated, the spine was placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Fresh formalin was exchanged 3-4 days after the necropsies were completed and the samples shipped for histopathology processing and interpretation.

The formalin fixed lumbar spines were processed (Leica TP1050 tissue processor), embedded in paraffin, sectioned, mounted on slides and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) in an automated stainer (Leica Autostainer XL) using standard histology methodology. H&E stained slides were examined by a veterinary pathologist. Coronal sections of the spines were taken to include the T4 and T5 (T=transverse processes), and the L4 and L5 (L=lumbar) vertebra. Specimens were evaluated for inflammatory response, which was present in all groups, and was minimal to mild in most sites. Specimens were also evaluated for the presence of fusion of T4 to T5, the presence of new bone, the presence of original DBM, and the presence of carrier. The results are shown in Tables 1 (Putty test subjects), 2 (Paste test subjects) and 3 (Shams), in which T=Transverse process, R=Right, L=Left, DBM=Demineralized bone matrix, P=Present, AND A=Absent. Fusion was defined as bridging bone, with or without cartilage, between the transverse processes T4 and T5.

TABLE 1 (Putty of Example 1) Animal #: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group: Putty Putty Putty Putty Putty Putty New Bone (R) P P P P P P New Bone (L) P P P P P P Fusion of T4 P P P P P P to T5 (R) Fusion of T4 P P P P P P to T5 (L) Original DBM P P P P P P Carrier A A A A A A

TABLE 2 (Paste of Example 2) Animal #: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group: Paste Paste Paste Paste Paste Paste New Bone (R) P P P P P P New Bone (L) P P P P P P Fusion of T4 P P A A A P to T5 (R) Fusion of T4 A A A P P A to T5 (L) Original DBM P P P P P P Carrier A A A A A A

TABLE 3 (Sham) Animal #: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group: Sham Sham Sham Sham Sham Sham New Bone (R) A A A A A A New Bone (L) A A A A A A Fusion of T4 to T5 A A A A A A (R) Fusion of T4 to T5 A A A A A A (L) Original DBM A A A A A A Carrier A A A A A A

As can be seen, bilateral new bone was observed in all six animals from in each of the paste and putty groups. Either unilateral or bilateral fusion of T4 to T5 was observed in all six animals from the putty group. Unilateral fusion only (of T4 to T5) was observed in five of six animals in the paste group. It should be noted that while histology provides an accurate means of evaluating bone formation, it is possible to miss bridging bone that might cross out of the plane of section under evaluation.

The spine explants described in the experimental above were also evaluated by manual palpation after harvest. The results are set forth in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Fusion by Manual Palpation Implant Rat 1 Rat 2 Rat 3 Rat 4 Rat 5 Rat 6 Fusion Example 1 Putty Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 100% Example 2 Paste Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 100% Surgical Sham No No No No No No 0% The results demonstrate that the inventive putty and paste formulations successfully achieved fusion in the athymic rat model as assessed by manual palpation.

EXAMPLE 4 Evaluation of Osteoinductivity

The athymic rat is a widely accepted animal model for testing for osteoinductive activity in DBM products. This model was used to evaluate the inductivity putty formulations prepared as in Example 1 and paste formulations prepared as in Example 2.

The rats in the study were screened for general health before enrollment. The rats were anesthetized with isoflurane throughout the surgical procedure to maintain the proper anesthetic level. Implants were placed singularly in the muscle pouch of each hind limb through a 0.5 cm incision. Implants were placed near the femur to allow for blood supply but not adjacent to the bone. For the putty and paste implants, 0.1 cc of material was used per site. Incisions were closed with suture.

At 28 days post-operative, the rats were sacrificed via carbon dioxide inhalation. The musculature wherein the sample was placed was palpated to locate the implant and discern any tangible signs of calcification. All implants were harvested, preserving record of location. Explants were placed in labeled histology cassettes in 10% neutral buffered formalin.

Samples were decalcified, embedded in paraffin, sectioned & stained. Three sections per implant were taken at 100 μm intervals and stained with H&E. Samples were scored semi-quantitatively according to the table below. A score of one or greater is indicative of a pass, while a score of zero is a fail for the sample. Scores are averaged to determine if the group is a pass or fail. The scoring key was as follows:

Semi-Quantitative Histologic Scoring Score Histologic Appearance 0 No new bone formation 1  1-25% of section area is new bone and/or cartilage formation 2 25-50% of section area is new bone and/or cartilage formation 3 50-75% of section area is new bone and/or cartilage formation 4 75-100% of section area is new bone and/or cartilage formation The results are set forth in Table 5 below.

TABLE 5 Implant Scores Implant Implant Material 1 Implant 2 Implant 3 Implant 4 Average Example 1 Putty Fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Example 2 Paste Fail Pass Pass Pass Pass

Thus, the inventive putty and paste formulations were shown to be osteoinductive.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of Additional Malleable DBM Formulations

The preparative procedures described in Example 1 were used to prepare additional formulations of DBM. In particular, a sodium alginate solution at a given concentration was prepared, and to this solution were added 0.3 g of collagen and 2.5 g of DBM particles. The alginates employed were a medical grade alginates with a low endotoxin level (less than 100 EU/g, UltraPure Alignate, Novamatrix, Inc.). The formulations prepared were as follows.

TABLE 6 Component % Solution g/cc overall Dry wt % FORMULA 5A Sodium Alginate*   4% 0.035 10.13 Collagen n/a 0.043 12.46 DBM n/a 0.267 77.41 FORMULA 5B Sodium Alginate*   6% 0.052 10.56 Collagen n/a 0.043 8.67 DBM n/a 0.4 80.77 FORMULA 5C Sodium 7.5% 0.065 17.44 Alginate** Collagen n/a 0.043 11.45 DBM n/a 0.267 71.11 FORMULA 5D Sodium  10% 0.087 21.98 Alginate** Collagen n/a 0.043 10.82 DBM n/a 0.267 67.2 *Apparent viscosity 500 mPa's (20° C., 1% solution) **Apparent viscosity 270 mPa's (20° C., 1% solution)

EXAMPLE 6 Spinal Fusion Study with Osteoinductive Formulations

Formulations prepared as in Example 5 were used in a spinal fusion study in the nude rat model as generally described in Example 3, alongside a similar amount of the commercial product Accel Connexus putty (IsoTis SA, 70% DBM in a reverse phase carrier). Microscopic examination of the right and left posterolateral sites between the transverse processes of lumbar vertebra L4 and L5 of rats from the treatment groups was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the implant formulations in promoting bone formation. Each of the formulations of Example 5 demonstrated the capacity to form bone. No significant bone formation was observed in the sham surgery. Formula 5C was observed to cause the highest average of bone formation (79%). Formula 5B caused only slightly less bone formation (76% average). Of the remaining treatments, formula 5D caused 69% bone formation, and Formula 5A caused 67% bone formation, on average. Accell Connexus putty caused an average of 38% bone formation. The inventive compositions were thus demonstrated to have highly beneficial levels of osteoinductivity useful for spinal fusion.

EXAMPLE 7 Evaluation of Osteoconductivity in Rabbit Femoral Condyle Defect Study

In this example, the bone-forming capacities of four inventive formulations were evaluated and compared to the commercial product Healos™ bone graft material (hydroxyapatite-coated collagen microfibers) and sham surgery when implanted at a volume of about 0.15 cc's into a 5 mm diameter defect created in the cancellous bone of the distolateral femoral condyle in rabbits. The test formulations were as follows:

Component % Solution g/cc overall Dry wt % FORMULA 7A Sodium Alginate*   2% 0.017 5.33 Collagen n/a 0.043 13.13 DBM n/a 0.267 81.54 FORMULA 7B Sodium Alginate*   4% 0.035 10.7 Collagen n/a 0.043 12.4 DBM n/a 0.267 76.9 FORMULA 7C Sodium Alginate* 8.5% 0.074 19.32 Collagen n/a 0.043 11.19 DBM n/a 0.267 69.5 FORMULA 5D Sodium Alginate*  10% 0.087 21.98 Collagen n/a 0.043 10.82 DBM n/a 0.267 67.2 *Apparent viscosity 270 mPa's (20° C., 1% solution)

15 rabbits were used in the study, to provide a total of 30 defect sites. Each test composition was implanted in 5 defect sites, randomly assigned. Six weeks after implant, tissues were harvested from the defect sites and decalcified and processed for microscopic study. Three slides were examined per each defect site. The initial evaluation was conducted in a “blinded” fashion so the treatment status of each experimental group was unknown to the pathologist. Once the evaluation was completed, the experimental groups were then “unblinded” so that the test compositions and the sham surgical procedure were properly identified prior to the reporting of the effects of each treatment. Where applicable, microscopic findings were given a severity score based upon the following scale: “0”=within normal limits, “1”=minimal, “2”=mild, “3”=moderate, and “4”=marked. Parameters were evaluated as follows:

-   -   % Bone Formation=percentage of bone seen between existent         vertebral transverse processes or percentage of test site (that         may include remodeled transverse processes) that appears to be         bone     -   Quality of Bone=percentage of bone that is either immature woven         bone or mature compact bone     -   % Cartilage=percentage of test site that contains cartilage that         is undergoing transformation to bone     -   Inflammation=Severity rating of individual inflammatory cell         types, if present, ranging from a minimal grade of “1” to a         marked grade of “4” or “0”, if not present.     -   Soft Tissue Reaction=severity rating as previously cited of the         following findings, if present: pigment, fibrosis, hemorrhage,         and/or neovascularization     -   Phagocytized Material=the presence of debris seen in the         cytoplasm of macrophages

Results and Discussion:

General Observations. There were a few sites that lacked both bone and soft tissue responses. The lack of findings in these instances was presumed to be due to inadequate sampling of the test sites and not treatment. As such, group averages were calculated for all sites (unadjusted) and only those sites that had some form of bone and/or soft tissue response (adjusted). Adjusted averages were viewed as a more accurate evaluation of bone formation.

Compact bone formation was by far the predominant type of bone observed with very limited amount of immature, woven bone being present. Tissue responses typically found in association with the reactive bone formation consisted mainly of macrophage and multinucleated giant cell infiltration and proliferation of connective tissue (fibrosis). Additional cellular infiltration commonly observed included heterophils and lymphocytes. Limited amounts of poorly mineralized bone fragments were at times present in areas of reactive bone. A few sites for several different treatments had fairly distinct foci of what appeared to be fluid or fibrinous accumulations.

Treatment-Related Observations. When comparing unadjusted group averages, the least amount of bone formation (11%) was found in femoral defects of the Healos™ treatment rabbits. In contrast, the greatest amount of bone formation (65%) was detected in the Formula 7C treatment rabbits. Next greatest bone formation (53%) was found in the Formula 7A treatment rabbits. Comparable bone formation was detected for Surgery Sham (40%), Formula 7B (41%) and Formula 7D (46%) treatments.

When taking into account adjusted averages of bone formation, treatment-related effects were as follows: Formula 7C (69%), Formula 7A (66%), Formula 7D (62%), Formula 7B (51%), Surgery Sham (50%) and Healos (23%). Based on further subjective criteria of appearance, density, and consistency of bone development, the quality of bone was deemed highest for the Formula 7C and Formula 7D treatments.

Lower than anticipated levels of bone formation for Formula 7B may have been due to greater variability of sampling. In addition, greater amounts of reactive bone formation may have been attributed to the surgery sham procedure during the blinded phase because of misinterpretation of existing bone due to variability in orientation of bone sections. Notwithstanding any potential erroneous bias regarding the surgery sham-induced response, there was clearly a beneficial effect of bone formation related to the inventive formulations.

In summary, the microscopic examination of drill defects in the right and left femurs of 15 rabbits was conducted to determine the efficacy of inventive DBM implant compositions in the promotion of bone formation. This study was conducted in a blinded fashion so the actual identity of each treatment group was unknown prior to the final reporting of data. The results of this study demonstrated that the inventive DBM compositions were effective in promoting the formation of bone.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of DBM Formulation with Blended DBM Particle Size Distributions

This example describes the preparation of a DBM putty composition with superior handling and performance upon implant. A robust, firm putty was prepared using the general procedures and ingredients described in Example 1. The composition of the putty was:

FORMULA 8A Component g/cc overall Dry wt % Sodium Alginate 0.38 33 Collagen 0.10 8.4 DBM 0.67 58.6 *Apparent viscosity 270 mPa's (20° C., 1% solution)

The DBM used in this formulation was a blend of smaller and larger particle size products. Particles were first ground and screened for 2-4 mm sizes. A portion of the 2-4 mm size was reserved, and the remaining DBM was ground and screened for a 125-710 micron size. These two groups were then mixed at the time of final product manufacturing. The proportions of these two mixes were 38% 2-4 mm size, and 62% 125-710 micron size.

The resulting putty was cohesive and sufficiently firm to resist compression upon impingement by soft tissues at a bony implant site.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of DBM Formulation with Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Granules

This example describes the preparation of a DBM paste composition also including a significant component of granules of osteoconductive biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) with a tricalcium phosphate:hydroxyapatite ratio of about 40:60. The paste was prepared using the general procedures and ingredients described in Example 1 in addition to the BCP granules. The composition of the material was:

FORMULA 9A Component g/cc overall Dry wt % Sodium Alginate 0.015 5.1 Collagen 0.018 6.12 DBM 0.109 37.76 BCP Granules 0.148 51.02

The resulting paste was cohesive and contained both inorganic (ceramic granules) and organic (collagen) osteoconductive materials along with an osteoinductive DBM product.

The uses of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. In addition, all publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

1. A demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composition, comprising: bioresorbable solids admixed with a liquid carrier to form a malleable implant composition, said bioresorbable solids present at a level of about 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter to about 0.7 grams per cubic centimeter of said composition; said bioresorbable solids comprising a particulate solid collagen material and a particulate solid DBM material, said particulate solid collagen material present in a weight ratio no less than about 1:12 and no greater than about 1:2 relative to said particulate solid DBM material; and said liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel of a biocompatible polysaccharide, wherein said biocompatible polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter to about 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter of said composition.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin and chitosan.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said polysaccharide is alginate.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said weight ratio is in the range of 1:12 to 1:5.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said weight ratio is in the range of 1:10 to 1:5.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein: said bioresorbable solids are present at a level of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.25 g/cc of said composition; said polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.03 g/cc of said composition; and said composition is a flowable paste.
 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein: said bioresorable solids are present at a level of about 0.2 g/cc to about 0.4 g/cc of said composition; said polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc of said composition; and said composition is a shape-retaining putty.
 8. The composition of claim 6, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 9. The composition of claim 7, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 10. The composition of claim 8, wherein said weight ratio of collagen material to DBM material is in the range of 1:10 to 1:5.
 11. The composition of claim 9, wherein said weight ratio of collagen material to DBM material is in the range of 1:10 to 1:5.
 12. The composition of claim 1, wherein said particulate solid collagen material comprises a chemically crosslinked collagen material.
 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said particulate solid collagen material comprises a particulated sponge material.
 14. The composition of claim 1, also comprising a mineral material selected from synthetic ceramic granules or mineralized bone chips.
 15. The composition of claim 1, wherein said solid DBM material in said composition exhibits osteoinductivity.
 16. A demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composition, comprising: a liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel of a biocompatible polysaccharide, said aqueous gel in admixture with solids to form a malleable composition; said solids comprising a chemically crosslinked, particulate collagen material; and said solids comprising a particulate DBM material.
 17. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin, and chitosan.
 18. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 19. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein said particulate DBM material is osteoinductive.
 20. The DBM composition of claim 19, wherein said particulated sponge material has an average particle size less than about 2 mm.
 21. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein said particulate collagen material is present in a weight ratio no less than about 1:12 and no greater than about 1:2 relative to said particulate DBM material.
 22. The DBM composition of claim 21, wherein said weight ratio of particulate collagen material to particulate DBM material is in the range of 1:10 to 1:5.
 23. The DBM composition of claim 21, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 24. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein: said solids are present at a level of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.25 g/cc of said composition; said polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.03 g/cc of said composition; and said composition is a flowable paste.
 25. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein: said solids are present at a level of about 0.2 g/cc to about 0.4 g/cc of said composition; said polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc of said composition; and said composition is a shape-retaining putty.
 26. A method for treating a patient, comprising: implanting an amount of a composition according to claim 1 in the patient at a location at which bone growth is desired.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein: said bioresorbable solids are present at a level of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.25 g/cc of said composition; said polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.03 g/cc of said composition; and said composition is a flowable paste.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said implanting comprises injecting.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein: said bioresorable solids are present at a level of about 0.2 g/cc to about 0.4 g/cc of said composition; said polysaccharide is present at a level of about 0.01 g/cc to about 0.5 g/cc of said composition; and said composition is a shape-retaining putty.
 30. The method of claim 26, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 31. A method for treating a patient, comprising: implanting an amount of a composition according to claim 16 in the patient at a location at which bone growth is desired.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said particulate collagen material comprises a particulated sponge material.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein said particulate collagen material is present in a weight ratio no less than about 1:12 and no greater than about 1:2 relative to said particulate DBM material.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 35. A method for making a demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composition, the method comprising: forming an admixture including bioresorbable solids and a liquid carrier, said bioresorbable solids present at a level of about 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter to about 0.7 grams per cubic centimeter of said composition; wherein said bioresorbable solids comprise a particulate solid collagen material and a particulate solid DBM material, said particulate solid collagen material present in a weight ratio no less than about 1:12 and no greater than about 1:2 relative to said particulate solid DBM material; and wherein said liquid carrier comprises an aqueous gel of a biocompatible polysaccharide, with said biocompatible polysaccharide present at a level of about 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter to about 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter of said composition.
 36. A method for making a demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composition, the method comprising: forming an admixture including a liquid carrier and solids, said liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel of a biocompatible polysaccharide; wherein said solids comprise a chemically crosslinked, particulate collagen material; and wherein said solids comprise a particulate DBM material.
 37. A demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composition, comprising: a liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel including a biocompatible polysaccharide, said aqueous gel in admixture with particulate solids to form a malleable composition; said particulate solids comprising a particulated bioresorbable sponge material; and said particulate solids comprising a DBM material.
 38. The DBM composition of claim 37, wherein said particulated bioresorbable sponge material comprises collagen.
 39. The DBM composition of claim 37, wherein said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin and chitosan.
 40. The DBM composition of claim 39, wherein said polysaccharide is an alginate.
 41. The DBM composition of claim 37, wherein said sponge material is chemically crosslinked.
 42. The DBM composition of claim 37, wherein said DBM material is osteoinductive.
 43. A method for treating a patient, comprising: implanting an amount of a composition according to claim 37 in the patient at a location at which bone growth is desired.
 44. A method for preparing a demineralized bone matrix (DBM) composition, comprising: admixing particulate solids with a liquid carrier comprising an aqueous gel including a biocompatible polysaccharide to form a malleable composition; wherein said particulate solids comprise a particulated bioresorbable sponge material; and wherein said particulate solids comprise a DBM material.
 45. The composition of claim 1, wherein said particulate solid DBM material includes elongate particles having a width of at least about 0.2 mm.
 46. The DBM composition of claim 16, wherein said particulate solid DBM material includes elongate particles having a width of at least about 0.2 mm.
 47. The DBM composition of claim 37, wherein said particulate solid DBM material includes elongate particles having a width of at least about 0.2 mm. 